No details released in Exeter homicide

EXETER - Law enforcement officials maintained their silence Saturday as an investigation continued into the killing of a Hampton woman called a "dedicated and energetic professional" by her employer.

Amanda "Amy" Warf, 36, was found dead after a fire in an abandoned building on the site of a former sand and gravel business in Exeter. The state's chief medical examiner, Dr. Thomas Andrew, ruled Warf's death to be a homicide, but has not revealed any details about how she was killed or the specific cause of death.

The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms has joined the investigation, according to a statement from the Attorney General's Office, along with state police, the Exeter Fire Department and the state fire marshal.

Warf was an employee of Exeter Hospital, which maintained an office just a quarter-mile from the 60-year-old former City Concrete building at 2 Hampton Road in Exeter, where the body was discovered.

"Amanda was a dedicated and energetic professional who proudly served as an employee of Exeter Hospital for many years," the hospital said in a news release. "Amanda will be greatly missed by all those who knew and worked with her. Our heartfelt condolences continue to be with her family during this difficult time."

The 7 Holland Way office where Warf was employed houses Exeter's billing and patient accounts offices, as well as a medical practice affiliated with the hospital.

Last Thursday, Exeter firefighters responded about 7 a.m. to the long-vacant former manufacturing facility on a 11.8-acre parcel. It is currently owned by Wakefield Investments of Massachusetts. City Concrete was merged into Wakefield in 1989.

In addition to working at Exeter Hospital since the late 1990s, Warf had been employed by the Hair Expressions beauty salon at the Fox Run Mall until about two years ago, former co-workers told the New Hampshire Sunday News.

Exeter officials are refusing to release any information about the fire at the location where Warf's body was found. Fire Chief Brian Comeau said he could not release fire log information.

A decision last May by the state Supreme Court held that a law enforcement exemption to the state public information law applies to fire officials, provided the information is "compiled for law enforcement purposes" and meets one of six criteria for keeping police records secret.

State police are seeking the public's assistance in the investigation; anyone with information can call 271-3636.